ABC News for iPad has got to be one of the most unique ways of browsing for news stories that interest me. Open the free app, and you see a globe covered with photos and headlines. Drag the globe around with your finger, and tap a photo to choose a story.
Once tapped, you’ll see a short summary of the story. If it still interests you, tap “Read More” to get the entire story. These aren’t all ABC News stories, either. Some are provided by the Associated Press.
Like the story and want to share it? Tap “Share” and send the story by email or post to your Twitter or Facebook account. If you really like the story, or you want to read it later, add it to Favorites.
News on ABC News for iPad can also be browsed by “Sections” (Top Stories, which is the default, “Popular,” “Video,” “U.S.,” “Politics,” “Investigative,” “Entertainment” and many more) or by “Programs” (“Good Morning America,” “World News,” “20/20,” “Nightline,” “This Week”). Tap one of those, and get a fresh globe with stories from that section or program.
Don’t like the globe interface? Go old school and view the available stories in list format.
The app is free, so there are some advertisements that you’re going to have to put up with, but they’re relatively innocuous, however. You’ll see one between pages of a multi-page story, but once you’ve viewed it, you won’t see it again.
There’s also a search box to find the news you want to read.
